Australian Dance Theatre founder Elizabeth Dalman returning for Adelaide Festival Show at 90

In the sweltering heat of an Adelaide summer, 90-year-old Elizabeth Dalman is directing dancers at the Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) through another intense training session. ADT choreographer Brianna Kell says Dalman often refers to herself as a "stern taskmaster," possessing boundless energy and a keen eye for detail.

Dalman founded the company in 1965, and now she has returned to assist in the creation of "The Quiet Language," a performance for next year's Adelaide Festival, which also celebrates the company's 60th anniversary. ADT is renowned worldwide for its leading position in the field of modern dance.

This is a stark contrast to when a young Dalman brought modern dance back to Adelaide, where she was born and raised, from the Netherlands. She explained, "It was initially a rebellion against classical ballet, which is a very unnatural way of training the body, and the early pioneers wanted to find a more natural way for the body to move." However, this innovation was not universally accepted. "Many audiences loved it, but the critics would say 'the dance is ugly, they're barefoot, it's shocking, or they're rolling on the floor, oh my god'," she recalled with a laugh.

She often found support from unexpected sources, namely art enthusiasts in rural areas. "People in the country rarely get to see theatre, so any performance they see is a memorable experience, and people would trek hundreds of miles to see a show," she said. Australia's oldest modern dance company was founded against a backdrop of national social and political upheaval, and Elizabeth Dalman was often at the forefront of pushing for change. "I was called an angry woman because in 1967 I created a piece called 'Sunset,' which was my view on the Vietnam War, an anti-war piece," she said. "We broke a lot of rules, you could say, for the better."

She recalled gatherings in Adelaide basements, protest leaders being imprisoned, and even a Buddhist monk self-immolating during those turbulent times. Dalman left ADT in 1975 and pursued dance and teaching work in Italy and the Netherlands. She now lives and works at the Mura Creative Arts Centre and Dance Company outside Canberra. A 90-year-old might choose a life of ease, but not Elizabeth Dalman, who has been active in rehearsals for ADT's Adelaide Festival performance. "She has this incredible charisma, she's a storyteller, she's like a creative goddess, she walks into a room and you just listen," Brianna Kell said. "One of my deepest memories is Liz effortlessly sliding into a split, this 90-year-old… sliding into a split and then gracefully standing up."

"It's joyous, it's big, it's fun, and there are a lot of homages to Australian dance from the past to the present," dancer Zachary Lopez said of the rehearsals. The veteran choreographer has a close connection to nature, and rehearsals include spending time in beloved Adelaide parks, lying on the ground, surrounded by some bothersome bull ants. "Even if it's a bit uncomfortable, you have ants on your feet, a few bites here and there, that's okay," Kell said with a laugh. "You're pulled out of the pain and thinking about inspiration, not minding being bitten by bull ants or mosquitoes, but thinking more about the micro-world of that space," Lopez continued.

Elizabeth Dalman has no plans to retire anytime soon. "Dance is part of my life," she said. "The Quiet Language" will premiere at the Adelaide Festival in late February.